Area Premiere!

Friday, July 31 – Monday, August 3

(2014) dir John Pirozzi w/ Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Baksey Cham Krong [105 min; DCP]
“In the 1960s, the increased American presence in the Vietnam War helped rock ‘n’ roll reach Cambodia, encouraging the emergence of a vibrant new sound like no other: a blend of Western grooves, traditional Eastern melodies, and hypnotic vocals. Just as this new Cambodian music scene was flourishing, the country underwent a drastic change, and on April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge began ruthlessly wiping out all traces of modernity and Western influence. But they couldn’t stop the music, which became treasured by record collectors around the world and would go on to inspire a new generation of musicians, including American indie band Dengue Fever.

Filmmaker John Pirozzi spent a decade researching the twists and shouts of Cambodia’s lost pop music, tracking down surviving musicians and restoring recordings from rare vinyl pressings. Exposing the tragedy and heartbreak that occurred as clubs were closed, record collections were destroyed, and musicians were targeted and killed, DON’T THINK I’VE FORGOTTEN is also a musical restoration of the country’s history, a celebration of art, and an homage to those who paid for it with their lives.” – Notes from SIFF Film Center, Seattle
httpv://youtu.be/ZK4Iow7ggRo

“The first two-thirds of Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten is a pure and joyous celebration of the music. The last third is an avowal of just how potent rock ‘n’ roll can be.” – Stephanie Zacharek, Village Voice

“That the documentary exists at all is a triumph.” – Jason Newman, Rolling Stone